It depends on the region....and your taste. My favorite pizza might not be your favorite pizza. I prefer "bianco" with no sauce...but that is me. And the same goes for gelato (not ice cream). The flavors I like and which I think are good might not appeal to you. Tell us what region/s you will be traveling to and we can suggest foods that are typical of that are. The cuisine of Italy is very regional...and often even very diverse within a region.
Re: comment of "What you are getting yourself into". Do you have any family or friends in Italy (and in the immediate area) that can help you? While I live in a different area (mountains in Tuscany) and for different reasons, know that things happen and it can be difficult to manage in a country where the rules & regulations are different, the healthcare system is different, customs are different, daily life is different, and without a firm grasp on the language, muddling through these can be harsh. Regardless of whether your utiliities are all included, and you have a landlord....you will find occassions of things that happen (outside of just the rental situation), where it is easy to manage through in the US, as you know the system and know the language and know the routine...but now you are out of your comfort zone. Obviously if you are in Venice, you won't have a car - which can be a mixed blessing. Again, not trying to dampen your plans...but know the reality. The grass is not always greener on the other side.
You have to secure the visa first and this has to be done in the US. There is a lot of "Chicken & egg" issues with this however, as you must have proof of a return ticket from Italy to show that you will not over extend your stay beyone the time granted by the Visa...as well as the rental contract, proof of a certain level of health insurance (letter from your health ins. company), proof of financial means to support yourself - cannot be work over in italy (that would be a work visa), and cannot be retirement income. It has to be savings in the bank. You also have to have proof of no criminal record. The permesso is secured over in Italy and must be done within 8 days of arrival. You will need all of the same paperwork and then some. I woud STRONGLY recommend that you visit Italy first to secure your rental instead of doing this blindly. It also sounds like you are not fluent in Italian...this can cause a lot of problems. It really is best to go over for a few visits for at least 2-4 weeks at a time to truly get an understanding of what you are getting yourself into and the areas you are thinking of living in. It is one thing to come to italy on vacation and essentially really have no worries vs. moving here and taking on a rental. Also, if you are on one of the smaller Venetian island and not Venice proper, you might find it somewhat isolating. They are all very small and only served by boat (one way or another). Really investigate such a big move first and don't just jump into this without knowing all the "ins" and "outs" first. I am not trying to put a damper on your plans, but I think too many people romanticize a move to Italy without thinking it out. Many of my American and British friends have moved back to the UK or States after a few years, realizing it was not quite the movie dream they had imagined.
If you are an American, you will need to get a long stay visa for anything longer than 90 days in a Schengen country. You will also need to secure a permesso. As part of both, you will need to have a copy of a rental contract or proof of a permanant address (such as a home purchsed). There are plenty of rental agencies but you need to find an area first that you are interested in to better provide you with information.
Kimba,Have you been to Basilicata before or are you just looking at pictures in books and the web? You say you are going to get a passport....is this a first time passport? Which would mean you have never been to Italy before? If you have not already done so, I would suggest spending some time in the area you are considering. You will need to get a visa to move and live in Italy. This is not easy as you will need to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while living there. You will also need to prove that you do not have a criminal background...and that you have sufficient health insurance in the US to cover yourself in case of medical needs. Once you have received a visa, you need to apply for a Permesso within 8 days of arrival to Italy. Again, not an easy procedure. How do you plan to support yourself while living there? You can not work in Italy without a work visa. This would mean that a company over in Italy (while you are living in the US), must hire you first. With unemplyment levels so high in Italy and even higher in this particular region, it would be quite difficult. The priority is for jobs to go to Italians first. You will need to think of things like transportation (car?), utilities (which you can not get until you have a CF), day to day living...Vacationing is one thing, living in another country is another. Especially if you do not speak the language well. Good luck.
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It depends on the region....and your taste. My favorite pizza might not be your favorite pizza. I prefer "bianco" with no sauce...but that is me. And the same goes for gelato (not ice cream). The flavors I like and which I think are good might not appeal to you. Tell us what region/s you will be traveling to and we can suggest foods that are typical of that are. The cuisine of Italy is very regional...and often even very diverse within a region.
Re: comment of "What you are getting yourself into". Do you have any family or friends in Italy (and in the immediate area) that can help you? While I live in a different area (mountains in Tuscany) and for different reasons, know that things happen and it can be difficult to manage in a country where the rules & regulations are different, the healthcare system is different, customs are different, daily life is different, and without a firm grasp on the language, muddling through these can be harsh. Regardless of whether your utiliities are all included, and you have a landlord....you will find occassions of things that happen (outside of just the rental situation), where it is easy to manage through in the US, as you know the system and know the language and know the routine...but now you are out of your comfort zone. Obviously if you are in Venice, you won't have a car - which can be a mixed blessing. Again, not trying to dampen your plans...but know the reality. The grass is not always greener on the other side.
You have to secure the visa first and this has to be done in the US. There is a lot of "Chicken & egg" issues with this however, as you must have proof of a return ticket from Italy to show that you will not over extend your stay beyone the time granted by the Visa...as well as the rental contract, proof of a certain level of health insurance (letter from your health ins. company), proof of financial means to support yourself - cannot be work over in italy (that would be a work visa), and cannot be retirement income. It has to be savings in the bank. You also have to have proof of no criminal record. The permesso is secured over in Italy and must be done within 8 days of arrival. You will need all of the same paperwork and then some. I woud STRONGLY recommend that you visit Italy first to secure your rental instead of doing this blindly. It also sounds like you are not fluent in Italian...this can cause a lot of problems. It really is best to go over for a few visits for at least 2-4 weeks at a time to truly get an understanding of what you are getting yourself into and the areas you are thinking of living in. It is one thing to come to italy on vacation and essentially really have no worries vs. moving here and taking on a rental. Also, if you are on one of the smaller Venetian island and not Venice proper, you might find it somewhat isolating. They are all very small and only served by boat (one way or another). Really investigate such a big move first and don't just jump into this without knowing all the "ins" and "outs" first. I am not trying to put a damper on your plans, but I think too many people romanticize a move to Italy without thinking it out. Many of my American and British friends have moved back to the UK or States after a few years, realizing it was not quite the movie dream they had imagined.
If you are an American, you will need to get a long stay visa for anything longer than 90 days in a Schengen country. You will also need to secure a permesso. As part of both, you will need to have a copy of a rental contract or proof of a permanant address (such as a home purchsed). There are plenty of rental agencies but you need to find an area first that you are interested in to better provide you with information.
Kimba,Have you been to Basilicata before or are you just looking at pictures in books and the web? You say you are going to get a passport....is this a first time passport? Which would mean you have never been to Italy before? If you have not already done so, I would suggest spending some time in the area you are considering. You will need to get a visa to move and live in Italy. This is not easy as you will need to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while living there. You will also need to prove that you do not have a criminal background...and that you have sufficient health insurance in the US to cover yourself in case of medical needs. Once you have received a visa, you need to apply for a Permesso within 8 days of arrival to Italy. Again, not an easy procedure. How do you plan to support yourself while living there? You can not work in Italy without a work visa. This would mean that a company over in Italy (while you are living in the US), must hire you first. With unemplyment levels so high in Italy and even higher in this particular region, it would be quite difficult. The priority is for jobs to go to Italians first. You will need to think of things like transportation (car?), utilities (which you can not get until you have a CF), day to day living...Vacationing is one thing, living in another country is another. Especially if you do not speak the language well. Good luck.